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Apple Stock Up 50% Since Steve Jobs's Death

Defying the most dire predictions by critics, Apple has not fallen apart without Steve Jobs. In fact, the company has won over Wall Street with a nearly 50% boost in its stock price since Jobs' death last October.

At Tuesday's close, Apple's stock price was around $575.64, a 52% jump since Oct. 5, the day Jobs died and when Apple's stock was selling for $378.25. Of course, there are reasons for the optimism. Apple's reported blowout numbers in its fiscal first quarter with revenues of $43 billion and a profit of $13 billion.

Apple's iPhone 4S launch, which came a day before Jobs died, also went very well, even if some were disappointed that an iPhone 5 wasn't available. It remains to be seen how the company's iPad launch will go this month, though Apple is said to be having trouble keeping up with demand.

Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies and a longtime Apple watcher, says he's not surprised that the company seems to be faring well without its "spiritual head" as he terms it.

"Apple has built an incredible foundation," Bajarin told Mashable. "They were building on it when Steve passed away."

Bajarin says in the four or five years before Jobs died, the Apple co-founder had been putting a lot of his energy into overseeing the group that includes CEO Tim Cook and Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of industrial design.

"He's been mentoring that entire group of executive leaders about how to carry forth his vision," Bajarin says.

Not everyone agrees that Apple has made a seamless transition, though. Rob Enderle, principal analyst of the Enderle Group, says Apple was able to keep up appearances for years after the first time Jobs left, in 1985.

"It took three years to become noticeable and seven years to be become unavoidable," Enderle says of Apple's decline during that period.

"People wondered if they'd be able to maintain that Steve Jobs wonder," Enderle says. "After this launch, people said 'It's got a nice display and it's a nice upgrade,' but there was none of the drama, none of that over-the-top stuff."

What do you think? Is Apple coasting or is it still on top of its game? Sound off in the comments.

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